Overcoming the Challenges of Life through Wisdom

 OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE THROUGH WISDOM We are living in a world of equality. Equal challenge, equal temptations, equal opportunities, equal education, equal grace, equal time, etc. Everything is equal to everyone under the sun. But what you get in the world is determined by your level of wisdom. Ecclesiastes 9:2-3,11 2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. 3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. God is so kind that He has decided to release everything to us equally but it then depends on us to determine the result we get out of life. Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. -Ecclesiastes 5:9 The profit of the earth is for everyone, but whether you will enjoy the profit it all depends on you. It takes wisdom to partake of the benefit that is both in the kingdom and the earth. Jesus established this fact that we all (saved and unsaved) do face the same challenge but to the believers, we have an advantage because we have access to the wisdom to turn everything to our favor. Matthew 7:24-27 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.  To stand strong, and withstand the floods of life, the winds, rains and frustration in the word, we must rely on the wisdom of God. This one reason Jesus promised us wisdom in order to stand victorious in this world. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.  -Luke 21:15 Until you go for wisdom, you are going to be flooded out by the challenges of life. The challenges of life do not have respect of persons. It either you overcome them or they beat you down. HOW DO WE OVERCOME CHALLENGES THROUGH WISDOM? 1. Take heed to the word of God. Luke 7:24-27 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.  It takes the sayings of Christ to gain wisdom. And through this wisdom, you can overcome the challenges of live. God's word is our wisdom. Ignoring the word is ignoring His wisdom for us. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. -Deuteronomy 4:6 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. -2 Timothy 3:15 You cannot get the wisdom of God by ignoring His word. And it would take heeding to a His word to overcome the challenges of life. 2. Think before you act. Luke 14:28-30 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.  Wisdom has to do with thinking. To act before you think makes you foolish. To overcome the challenges of life you must sit down to think first before you act. Someone said, look before you leap. Do not rush into doing things. 3. Learn to project into the future. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. -Proverbs 22:3 To project means to see into the future or to have a foresight. Don't wait until challenges come before you take step. Learn to foresee them and plan your escape. Every wise person will live having the future in mind. 4. Live a planned life. The reason so many people are victims of challenges is as a result of lack of planning or inadequate planning. Proverbs 24:3-4 3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Until you plan, you will always lie a frustrating life. Progress is a product of a planned life. You cannot make progress without planning. 5. Stay connect to Christ Our victory is hidden in Christ.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? -1 John 5:5 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.  -John 16:33 There is no challenge Christ has not overcome. To stay connect to Christ is to stay victorious. You cannot ignore Christ and win the race of life with His wisdom. To those who are in Christ all things including challenges work together for their good. Wisdom therefore demands that you stay connect to Him because He will guide you on the way to profit.